Protective device for liquid containers



' E. C. FURMAN PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 29, 192g Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES PTENr EUGENE c; EUEIVLAN', or NEwro-R'r NEWS, VIRGINIA.

PROTECTIVE VIJEvIcE Eon LIQUID coNrAI'i'vERs.`

Application led February 29, 1924. Serial No.' 686,075.

T all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE C.y FURMA-N,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Newport News, in the county of Warwick and State `of Virginia, have` invented c'er-` tain new and useful Improvements in Pro'- tective Devices for LiquidfContainers; and

I do declare the following tobe a full, clear,

and exact ldescription lof the invention, such y asV will enable others skilled in the art to which it app'ertains to make and use `the same.

My iny'fention relates to improvements in devices for protecting numerous forms of liquid containers, such aswater pipes, au-

tomobile radiators, etc., against breakage when the liquid contained therein reaches the freezing point, the principal object being to provide a liquid outlet for the container norg() mally closed by a novel fragile bulb which is immersed in the liquid, said bulb being adapted to break as ice forms around it, so as to allow the liquid to escape before any serious results occur.

Another object is to provide a bulb of the class set fort-h containing a spring which acts to separa-te broken portions of the bulb to allow free outrush of liquid and also forms a strainer for the liquid outlet preventing` :au pieces of the bulb from clogging the same.

With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a sectional view partly in elevation showing my invention in connection with a water pipe, illustrating the manner in which it normally seals the pipe against escape of water.

Figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating the bulb crushed to permit escape of liquid.

Figures 3 and 4 are elevations, partly in section, showing two different forms of bulbs which may be used.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view showing a different manner of attaching the bulb.

Figure 6 is an elevation partly in section, showing the appliance applied to an automobile radiator.

In the drawing above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a water pipe which may be a part of a water system or, as seen in Fig. 6, may be coupled at 1a to an automobile radiator, or to any other liquid container; At the end of the pipe 1, I have shown a reducer 2 .which carries a relatively small bleed pipe 3, the outer end of this bleed pipebeing preferably provided with a faucet 4 or other valve which .is nor-` mally open. The inner end of the bleed pipe 3 extends into the pipe land is preferably soldered or `otherwisesecured at 5' to a metal cap or socket 6 which opens' inwardly,`said socket being in communication with the pipe 3, through a suitable open-ingV 7. .4

To normally prevent the escape of liquid through the pipe 3, I provide a suitably mounted frangible bulb 8 'which is con# stantly submerged vin the liquid. This bulb is shown as having a closed end 9 and at its other end an attaching neckl() inv open communication with the' port 7.` rThis n'eckis rreceived in the socket Gand. both "may be formed with annularwribs or thelikel 1l to engage cement l2 and hold the neckwithin the socket 6, or the neck may beI threaded in the socket as seen at 11a in Fig. 5, a gasket l2a being then used to form a liquid-tight connection.

In most views, I have illustrated thebulb 8, weakened by circumferential grooves 13 and longitudinaly grooves 14, but in Fig. 8, a bulb has been illustrated sufficiently thin to require no weakening. A coiled spring 15 is housed, under compression, in the bulb,

with one of its ends bea-ring against the end 9 and its other end preferably secured to the socket 6.

When the temperature so drops that the pipe 1 becomes lined with ice, the bulb 8 will crush and the spring 15 will then force the pieces of bulb apart to allow the free outfiow of liquid. This spring also acts as a strainer to prevent any pieces of the bulb from clogging the liquid outlet.

The device may be used in connection with any form of liquid container, to protect the latter against injury by freezing of its contents, and before any pressure is generated sufficient to injure the container, it will break the bulb 8 and permit discharge of the liquid. The faucet or valve t may be closed after breakage of the bulb if it is necessary to further use the container before a new bulb` can be inserted.

When the device is used on automobile radiators, the usual drain cock 16 is preferably used also, as shown, permitting the radiator to be drained whenever desired, but if llO such draining is not done, the radiator is nevertheless protected by the invention, against breakage by freezing.

As excellent results may be obtained from the details disclosed, they may Well be followed, but Within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous changes may be made.

I claim:

l. The combination With ay liquid container having a bleed port; of a fragile bulb Within the liquid containing portion of said container and having an open end connected With said port, said bulb normally forming a closure for the port but being adapted s to break by external pressure upon partial freezing of the liquid.

2. The combination With a liquid containing tube having a bleed port; of a bulb in the liquid containing portion of said tube normally closing said bleed port, said bulb having a Wall in close proximity to the Wall of said tube to be broken by initial formation of ice .around the inner side of said tube.

3. The combination with a liquid container having a bleed port; of a fragile bulb Within the liquid containing portion of said container', said bulb having a closed end and an open end, the latter being connected With said port, said bulb normally forming a closure for the port but being adapted to break upon partial freezing of the liquid, and a compression spring confined in said bulb and adapted to expand and separate parts of said bulb When broken, said spring also serving to guard said bleed port against clogging With parts of the broken bulb.

4:. The combination with a liquid container; of a bleed pipe for the container extending into the interior thereof, an in- Wardly facing socket carried bythe inner end of said pipe, and a fragile bulb having an open end secured in said socket.

5. A structure as specified in claim l; said bulb bein circumferentially and longitudinally Weened.

6. An attachment for a liquid container, comprising a bleed pipe, a fragile bulb connected to one end of said pipe and adapted to be immersed in the liquid, and a coiled compression spring Within said bulb adapted to separate broken parts of the latter and active also to exclude such parts from said bleed pipe when the bulb is broken.

7 An article of manufacture comprising a fragile bulb having a closed end and an open end and grooved longitudinally and transversely to weaken it.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature. y

EUGENE C. FURMAN. 

